The Bubble Tea Obsession
Tapioca? Jelly? Pudding? Sago? Red Bean? If you have no idea what I am talking about, it is safe to say you are not a bubble tea lover! Over the quarantine, my obsession for bubble tea became stronger. Especially on rainy days, my younger sister and I would Uber Chatime and watch Disney+ together while arguing over who ordered the better drink. My friends and I don't even need to discuss what we are going to do together, it's always bubble tea. When we are feeling adventurous we often try somewhere new. Some of my favourites include “The Alley” which gets my vote for most Instagrammable drink, “Mr.Sun” which wins for most unique bubbles and “Labothéry'' which wins for overall coolest beverage. However, my favourite (yes I am ready for the debate) is “Coco”. Bubble tea can turn into an all-day activity filled with tasty treats and good conversations and has led to some of my fondest memories.
If you're a bubble tea lover like me, you know your order. Whether it be a fresh tea, milk tea, or slush, you have your go-to. It's high in sugar and caffeine, who can resist? There is something about sipping through the iconic bubble tea straw that brings me joy. Clearly, since I dedicated an entire article to it. This industry is also thriving in the business world. It is predicted that by 2027, it will be a 4.4 billion dollar industry. Working against this growth are people like my mom, for whom the thought of having something floating around in your drink makes her stomach turn.
I have tried making the famous pearl milk tea at home countless times, and let me tell you, it is not easy. Time after time again, it ends with my friends and I covered in tapioca flour with sticky hands, with Uber bubble tea on its way. The recipes make it sound so easy, "just mix the tapioca flour with water to make a dough which you boil." If you have successfully made it at home, please let me know, I need help! Over quarantine, I think I learned more than the average person should know about one drink. Bubble tea originated in the 1980s in Taiwan, and suddenly became extremely popular in North America around 2014. Not that long ago! And get ready for this. . . the “bubble” in bubble tea does not refer to the tapioca (or boba as the Americans say). Instead, it refers to the bubbles that are formed when it is initially poured. This is done by a machine that shakes and seals your drink before it is ready for you to do the honour of piercing it! There is a knack to this, but once you've mastered the skill, there is no going back.
Bubble tea doesn't just bring joy to me, hear it from your other fellow HC students! I truly believe bubble tea makes a positive difference to those who let it. One student told me “I used to get it with my nanny as a kid whenever I would sleep over at her house, so it brings me such significant memories.” Another quote from Irene Cai, “I love bubble tea cause it's just so good.” I also asked the biggest bubble tea addict why she loves bubble tea, and her response was “oh don't even get me started. . . bubble tea makes my life worth living. The variety of flavours feeds my soul, even though I get the same thing every time, and it has become a tradition with specific friends which is so special to me.”
If bubble tea isn't the light in your life, I hope you can relate to this article with something similar. Something small that makes your day, and brings you a little bit of happiness in this crazy time we are living in.